Sublime musical ambiance and enchanting storytelling transports listeners on a journey of the soul.
Arsalan has played the kora at diplomatic ceremonies as cultural attaché to the honorary consul of Senegal, corporate events, cultural events, weddings, spoken word events, with jazz bands, rock bands, folk bands and youth educational events.
Arsalan far surpassed my expectations from the very beginning of our communication. I knew right away that I had chosen the perfect performer for my event. He arrived early, fully prepared, and brought a level of professionalism and warmth that was impressive. His storytelling and musical talent were extraordinary, exceeding my already high expectations. I am immensely grateful to have had such an exceptional performer entertain our guests. His musical selections and storytelling transported everyone to another world. The feedback I received highlighted just how much everyone enjoyed the event, especially his performance. I am looking forward to booking him for many more events in the future and am actively seeking opportunities to do so. Words cannot fully express how much I enjoyed this performance.
The performance was beyond all expectations and the effort put in to make it happen on short notice showed a level of professionalism and commitment that to craft that is rare and nearly impossible to find. Bravo!
Arsalan offers a singular musical experience that is much more than spoken word, music, and storytelling. He takes you on a journey that not only conveys the anecdotal but the temporal as well. If you have the chance to watch Arsalan perform and partake in his craft, I recommend not missing the chance.
Price Range: Contact for rates
Arsalan’s Mandingo ancestry would "pull" him into the tradition of Jeliya, the art of the Jeli (griot of the Mande). He would spend the next decade of his life learning Kora from his teachers Jeliba Toumani Diabate in Mali and Jeliba Baba in the US and they would push him to begin performing publicly only a few years into his training.
He's collaborated with Jerry Bell of the Dazz Band, members of Earth, Wind, & Fire, and Al Jarreau among others; all the while, acting as the official Korafola of the Senegalese Association of Southern California and the Cultural Attaché to the Honorary Consul of Senegal. Whenever asked to explain the Jeli he says simply, “I am a bard.”
| June 22, 2024 • 4:30pm - 5:00pm | Cultural Event |
| January 10, 2024 • 5:30pm - 6:00pm | Virtual Event |
Anita Baker, Toumani Diabate, Ali Farka Touré, GAP Band, Stevie Wonder, Skip James, Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, and Richard Pryor
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